Jerry Garcia - Run For The Roses LP

Run for the Roses is the last of the studio albums to have come from the Jerry Garcia Band, even though the combo would continue to tour for another 13 years. Sadly, it is also Garcia's most lightweight effort as a bandleader. The disc certainly features a few distinct and redeemable moments; however, taken as whole there are far too many marginal performances for it to be deemed as thoroughly captivating as any of his previous solo work -- especially the wholly inspired Cats Under the Stars (1978). Along with John Kahn (bass/fretless bass/synthesizer/piano/clavinet/guitar/slide guitar/electric guitar/co-producer), Garcia chose some interesting cover tunes -- such as the impotently executed "I Saw Her Standing There" and the underachieving "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" -- the latter of which would become increasingly effective as a live vehicle for the Garcia Band as well as the Grateful Dead during the ensuing years (an ultimate acoustic rendition can be found on the highly recommended